Selectmen Approve Application for Solarize Wellfleet

Solarize Wellfleet

Richard Elkin from the Energy Committee presented details of a pending grant application to the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC) and the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources (DOER) to participate in Round 2 of the 2013 Solarize Massachusetts program. This program encourages homeowners in a community to install solar photovoltaic (PV) projects on their homes or businesses through a group purchase that will drive down the cost for individual homeowners. There is a possibility that excess energy generation can be donated to the Town to offset costs.

From the audience, Energy Committee member Lilli Green said she was trying to promote a similar program that did not have the tight time constraints of the MassCEC grant, saying that a thoughtful delay and more research to build the alternate program supported by a sub-committee of the Energy Committee would yield higher non-resident participation and lower costs for solar installation. Elkin said that the quick turn-around time on the MassCEC grant was due to funding authorization in the current fiscal year.

Motion 14-0063: Pilcher authorized the Board of Selectmen to send a letter of support for Wellfleet’s participation in the 2013 Solarize Massachusetts program. Bruinooge seconded the motion and it passed 5-0.